Net holder device and holdable tennis table

ABSTRACT

A net holder device for use with a foldable ping-pong or tennis table includes a pair of net holder structures which are removably connected to the foldable table top sections and are swingable between an extended position and a collapsed position. Each net holder structure extends outwardly from between the table top sections and cooperates with the other net holder structure to hold the net in a taut condition. Each net holder structure is readily swingable inwardly to a collapsed position wherein the net holders are located between the table top sections when the top sections are in the folded condition. The net holders structures may also be swung to an out-of-the-way position below the table when the table is in an unfolded extended position.

United States Patent Nielsen Aug. 28, 1973 [76] Inventor: Otto S. Nielsen, 4875 Sorell Ave.

North, Minneapolis, Minn.

[22] Filed: June 19, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 264,186

[52] US. Cl. 273/30 [51] Int. Cl A63b 39/00 [58} Field of Search 273/30 [56] References Cited UNITED-STATES PATENTS 3,190,649 6/1965 Heisler 273/30 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham ie!! 1qrrin .r:I 9sB19m' a Attorney-George F. Williamson, Herman H. Bains et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A net holder device for use with a foldable ping-pong or tennis table includes a pair of net holder structures which are removably connected to the foldable table top sections and are swingable between an extended position and a collapsed position. Each net holder structure extends outwardly from between the table top sections and cooperates with the other net holder structure to hold the net in a taut condition. Each net holder structure is readily swingable inwardly to a collapsed position wherein the net holders are located between the table top sections when the top sections are in the folded condition. The net holders structures may also be swung to an out-of-the-way position below the table when the table is in an unfolded extended position.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures NET HOLDER DEVICE AND HOLDABLE TENNIS TABLE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The net holders for most ping-pong or tennis tables are usually applied to the table top by releasable clamps and the net must be tightened each time the net holders are applied to the table. When these prior art net holders are used with foldable tennis tables, the net holder device must be removed ,each time the table is folded and, of course, must be reapplied when the table is unfolded to the extended position.

Therefore it is a general object of this invention to provide a foldable tennis table with a novel net holder device which is permanently attached to the table and which may be readily shifted to an out-of-the-way position as desired.

The net holder device projects outwardly from the table and maintains the table tennis net in a taut condition thereby eliminating the problem of net adjustment attendant with prior art net holder devices. The net holder device may be readily shifted between the foldable table top sections when the table is folded or, atlernatively, it may be shifted below the table top when the table is in the extended horizontal position. The novel net holder is therefore not only of simple and inexpensive construction, but one which may be applied to the table by the manufacturer and requires no subsequent adjustment. These and other objects etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable tennis table incorporating a novel net holder device.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken approximately along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary portion of the-tennis table in a completely folded condition, and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectionalview taken approximately along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows. 3

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 1, it will be seen that one embodiment of my novel net holder service is incorporated on a foldable tennis table, designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The foldable tennis table 10 includes a table top comprised of a pair of substantially identical generally rectangular shaped top sections 11 preferably formed of a suitable wood material or the like and each having a substantially flat planar upper surface. Each top section includes opposed sides 13, an outer end 14, and an inner end 15. Each top section-is provided with a metallic frame which is only fragmentarily shown in the drawings but which is shown in detail in my copending application Ser. No. 264165. Each frame includes a pair of laterally spaced apart longitudinal frame members 16 which are disposed adjacent but spaced inwardly of the sides 13.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that each longitudinal frame member 16 is of angle construction and includes a vertical flange l8 and the horizontal flange 17 secured to the lower surface of the associated table top section 11 by screws. The foldable table 10 also includes a pair of leg structures for supporting the table, each leg structure including a pair of elongate tubular leg members 19 each being pivotally connected at its upper end to a longitudinal frame member 16 of one of the table top sections 11. Each tubular leg member 19 is rigidly interconnected to the other leg member by elongate U-shaped table of braces 20. Each leg member is also provided with an adjustable elongate castor support member 21 which is telescopically received therein and which is revolvable relative thereto to permit swinging thereof the castor support member relative to its associated leg structure. Each castor support member has a castor wheel 22 pivotally connected thereto for rotation about a substantial vertical axis.

A plurality of elongate connecting links 23 are provided each being connected at one end to one of the tubular leg members 19 intermediate the ends of the latte'r, and each being pivotally connected at its other end to one of a pair of coupling members 24. Each table top section 11 is pivotally connected to the coupling members 24" by pivots 25 to permit pivotal swinging of the table between an unfolded extended position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and a folded collapsed position, as illustrated in FIG. 5. It will further benoted that the pivotal axis25 between one top section 11 and the coupling members 24 is spaced from the pivotal axis between the other table top section and the coupling members. The construction and arrangement of the foldable table 10 is described more fully in detail in my co-pending application Ser. No. 264,l65, filed June,

19, 1972 and entitled Folding Table, and the disclosure of my co-pending application is incorporated by reference with respect to the present application.

The foldable table 10 is provided with a novel net holder device 26 which is permanently attached to the foldable table and which is comprised of a pair of similar net holder structures 27. Each net holder structure 27 is formed of a metallic material, preferably aluminum, and each includes an elongate substantially straight positioning member 28.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that each of the positioning members 28 is formed from angle bar stock secured together at their respective vertical flanges so that each positioning member includes a vertical positioning element 29 and a horizontal positioning element 30. It will be noted that when the net holder structures are in the extended position, the vertical positioning elements of each net holder structure is positioned between the inner ends of the table top sections 11 and that the horizontal positioning element of each holder structure is positioned upon the upper surfaces of the top sections adjacent the inner ends thereof.

Each net holder structure 27 also includes an elongate substantially straight vertical flat net holder element 31 which is positioned between the vertical positioning elements 29 of the associated positioning member adjacent the outer end of the latter. The net holder element 31 is rigidly secured to its associated positioning member and is provided with a pair of vertically" Each net holder structure 27 also includes an attachment element 33 which is integrally formed with each positioning member 28 adjacent its inner end and which projects at right angular relationship therefrom. Means are provided for securing the attachment element 33 to the table top and to this end, it will be seen that a pair of angle brackets 34 is provided for each net holder structure, and each bracket includes a flange 35 which is positioned against the vertical flange 18 of a longitudinal frame member 16 of one of the top sections 11. Each angle bracket 34 is secured to the longitudinal frame member of one of the top sections 11 by means of the pivot 25 which pivotally connects a top section 11 to one of the coupling members 24. Each angle bracket 34 also includes a second flange 36 and the attachment element 33 of each net holder structure is positioned between and pivotally secured to the flanges 36 of a pair of angle brackets by a pivot 37. With this arrangement, each net holder structure may swing vertically inwardly from the extended position about an axis extending longitudinally of the table to a collapsed position wherein the entire net holder device, with a net attached thereto, will be positioned between the table top sections 11 when the table has been collapsed in a folded position as illustrated in FIG. 5. It will also be noted that each net holder structure may be readily swung to its extended position from the collapsed position when the table is unfolded into the extended horizontal position.

Each net holder structure 27 is also provided with a retaining element 38 which, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, is affixed to the lower edge of the vertical positioning element 29 of each positioning member intermediate the ends thereof. It will be noted that each retaining element 29 has end portions 39 which extend downwardly and outwardly when the associated net holder structure is in the extended position. The end portions of the retaining element is adapted to underlie the table top sections when the table is in the unfolded extended position and the net holder device is in its extended position.

This retaining element prevents accidental inward swinging movement of each net holder structure from the extended position. A tennis net 40 of conventional construction and configuration is also provided and is detachably secured to the net holder elements 31 by pairs of helical attachment springs 41. When the net holder structures are in the extended position, the net 40 will be under the right degree of tension and tautness.

In use, when the table 10 is in the unfolded extended position, the net holder structure '27 will be in the extended position. The vertical positioning element 29 of each positioning member will be positioned between the inner ends of each table top section and the horizontal positioning element of each positioning member will overlie and engage the upper surfaces of the table top sections adjacent their inner ends. It will be noted that each positioning member will project outwardly beyond the edges of the table so that the length of the net corresponds to substantially the width of the table. The retaining elements 38 will underlie and engage the lower surfaces of the table preventing accidental inward swinging movement of the net holder structures and the net will therefore be maintained in a taut condition.

When it is desirable to swing the net holder device to a collapsed-position, the inner end portions of the top sections are swung upwardly collapsing the table which then permits the net holder structure to be swung inwardly to the collapsed position, as illustrated in FIG. 6. It will be noted that the pivotal axis of each net holder structure extends longitudinally of the table and is spaced inwardly of the longitudinal side edges of the table. When the net holder device is in the collapsed position, each net holder structure will assume the position illustrated in FIG. 6, and will be located between the table top sections when the latter are in the folded position. However, the net holder device may also be swung to a collapsed position below the table top when the table is in the extended position.

With this arrangement, it will be seen that the net holder device is permanently attached to the table and may be collapsed inwardly when the table is folded to its collapsed position, This pivoting of the net holder structures may be accomplished since each net holder structure is also connected with the pivotal axis between the table top sections and the coupling members. The present net holder structure requires no adjustment after it is attached to the table and the net is readily returned to its taut condition even though the entire device may be readily swung between the collapsed and extended positions.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a folding tennis table with a unique novel tennis holder device, which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction, but a device which functions in amore efficient manner than any heretofore known comparable net holder device.

What is claimed is:

. l. A combination net holder device and foldable tennis table wherein said table includes a pair of rectangular table top sections, a pair of coupling members, means pivotally connecting each coupling member with a top section to permit upward swinging movement of the top sections between a horizontal unfolded position and a vertical folded position, leg structures connected with the top sections, said net holder device comprising a pair of net holder structues each being swingable between an extended position and a collapsed position, each net holder structure including an elongate positioning member adapted to extendhorizontally between and project laterally outwardly of the top sections when the table top sections are in the unfolded horizontal position and when the net holder structure is in the extended position, a net holder element fixedly secured to the' outer end portion of said positioning member and projecting upwardly therefrom, each net holder element havingan end portion of a table tennis net secured thereto, an attachment element rigidly secured thereto the inner end of said position member and depending downward therefrom, means pivotally connected to said attachment element and being pivotally connected to the top sections for pennitting vertical swinging movement of said net holder structure about an axis extending longitudinally of the table from the extended position inwardly to a collapsed position between the table top sections when the latter are swung to the folded position,

each positioning member including a horizontal positioning element a vertical positioning element horizontal unfolded position.

2. The net holder device as defined in claim 1 wherein said attachment element for each net holder structures extends at substantially right angular relation with respect to the associated positioning member 3. The net holder device as defined in claim 1 wherein the pivotal axis of each net holder structure when attached to the top sections is spaced inwardly from the sides of the top sections. 

1. A combination net holder device and foldable tennis table wherein said table includes a pair of rectangular table top sections, a pair of coupling members, means pivotally connecting each coupling member with a top section to permit upward swinging movement of the top sections between a horizontal unfolded position and a vertical folded position, leg structures connected with the top sections, said net holder device comprising a pair of net holder structues each being swingable between an extended position and a collapsed position, each net holder structure including an elongate positioning member adapted to extend horizontally between and project laterally outwardly of the top sections when the table top sections are in the unfolded horizontal position and when the net holder structure is in the extended position, a net holder element fixedly secured to the outer end portion of said positioning member and projecting upwardly therefrom, each net holder element having an end portion of a table tennis net secured thereto, an attachment element rigidly secured thereto the inner end of said position member and depending downward therefrom, means pivotally connected to said attachment element and being pivotally connected to the top sections for permitting vertical swinging movement of said net holder structure about an axis extending longitudinally of the table from the extended position inwardly to a collapsed position between the table top sections when the latter are swung to the folded position, each positioning member including a horizontal positioning element , a vertical positioning element and a pair of retaining elements, said horizontal positioning elements being engaged with the upper surface of said table top sections, said vertical element being positioned between said table top sections and said retaining elements each being affixed to said vertical positioning element intermediate the ends of said positioning member and engagable with the under surface of said table top sections when said net holder structures are in the extended condition and said table top sections are in said horizontal unfolded position.
 2. The net holder device as defined in claim 1 wherein said attachment element for each net holder structures extends at substantially right angular relation with respect to the associated positioning member.
 3. The net holder device as defined in claim 1 wherein the pivotal axis of each net holder structure when attached to the top sections is spaced inwardly from the sides of the top sections. 